Podcasts

FINRA’s Investor Podcasts discuss the timely financial issues and information you’ll need to save smarter and weather today's turbulent stock markets. Investor Podcasts will also help you protect your portfolio by reporting trends in investment fraud and other traps investors at all wealth and experience levels should avoid.

About 70 percent of Americans expect to receive a tax refund this year. If you are one of them, FINRA’s senior vice president of Investor Education Gerri Walsh has some tips on how you can put that cash to work for you.

It may not be possible to predict when the next natural disaster will take place. What you can count on is that when it happens, scammers will try to take advantage of the situation. These tips will help you spot and avoid investment scams.

One of the key elements of any financial plan is to set appropriate and realistic timeframes for your investment goals. In this podcast, FINRA looks at how timeframes can help you prioritize and make the most of your investments throughout life.

If you’re in a financial pinch, a loan from your 401(k) plan might seem like a good option, especially around the holidays. But there are long-term consequences and risks you should consider. In this podcast, we look at the pros and cons of 401(k) loans.

Market performance can alter the relative values of the asset classes you hold in your portfolio. If it’s been a while since you’ve rebalanced your portfolio, now may be a good time to consider doing it.

If you decide to work with a financial advisor, choosing that person is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your financial health. Equally important is understanding your investment options, and learning how to spot and avoid fraud.

According to a report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), one in five borrowers from auto title loan companies have their vehicles seized when they fall behind on repayment of their loans. The CFPB report illustrates just how difficult it is for many borrowers to avoid getting caught in the title-loan trap.

Rarely a day goes by that you don't hear about some company that has down-sized or closed its doors. While you may not be able to control if your company decides to make some cuts—you can plan ahead and take steps to manage the financial impact of those events.

Does your company's 401(k), 403(b) or other retirement savings plan offer automatic features like auto-enrollment? While automatic features make saving simple, it's not the same thing as putting your savings on "autopilot." The tips in this podcast will help you make the most of your company's automatic retirement savings features.

Most business in the securities industry is done fairly and efficiently, but problems can arise. If you believe that a sales person, brokerage firm or other industry professional has treated you unfairly, you can file a complaint with FINRA. Before you file a complaint, here are four questions to ask yourself.

When the stock market is rocky, the best way to steady your pulse is by focusing on your overall financial picture. Combined with sound planning, this approach can pay dividends regardless of market conditions.

Have you ever pumped a few squirts of vanilla hazelnut syrup into your latte? There’s nothing wrong with that. But pumping up a coffee stock with hype and false statements? That's illegal. And the Securities and Exchange Commission recently brought fraud charges against alleged perpetrators of just such a scheme. We explain that scheme and give you tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.

As you look for a financial professional, you’ll probably come across people who call themselves financial planners. It's a phrase that encompasses many types of services and skills. Here are three things you need to know about financial planners.

Advertisements for reverse mortgages can give the false impression that they are an easy, cost-free way for retirees to finance vacations and leisurely lifestyles. But reverse mortgages aren’t free money, and misusing them—or misunderstanding how they work—can jeopardize your financial future.

At the swipe of a fingertip or the click of a mouse, you can access a broad range of automatic investment tools. Financial professionals have used auto tools for decades to help customers build and manage investment portfolios, and a growing number of these tools are now available directly to investors. The tools may offer benefits, but it’s important to understand their risks and limitations before using them.

College is an expensive investment for many families and students. And its cost seems to outpace inflation every year. For students and parents eligible for financial aid, student loans are likely to be part of most college aid packages. If you take out a student loan, make sure you understand who is lending the money, and the terms and conditions of the loan.